Dillsboro to coordinate meeting about TWSA bylaw change

By Rose Hooper

Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority Executive Director Jerry King asked Dillsboro's town board Monday (July 2) to approve a change in TWSA's bylaws that would allow the authority to move its offices outside Sylva's city limits.

The authority's bylaws call for its offices to remain within Sylva town limits. Because TWSA has outgrown its present office space and needs expanded storage facilities, the authority is looking for a new location.

TWSA board members June 19 approved an amendment calling for its principal office to be located "at such specific locations within Jackson County as the directors of the authority may from time to time designate."

Established in 1992 through an agreement with Jackson County and the towns of Sylva, Dillsboro and Webster, TWSA must now submit the amendment to each of those governmental bodies for approval. Meeting first, Dillsboro topped the list.

"I remember back in 1991-92 when we worked on this...we had lots of meetings during those eight months," said Dillsboro Mayor Wade Wilson. "The reason Sylva was chosen for the office was because Sylva put up the bulk of money and equipment...the county did, too, and since the courthouse was in Sylva the county concurred that Sylva should be the principal office place. "Dillsboro doesn't want to step on any toes here. We need to meet with the other municipalities and see how they feel," said Wilson, who agreed to arrange such a meeting.

King stressed that TWSA's customer base has "grown considerably. Our business is no longer mostly in the Sylva city limits."

He also said property within the Sylva city limits was priced between $100,000 to $150,000 an acre ­ more than the authority is willing to pay.

"That's why we are looking elsewhere," he told the Dillsboro board in requesting their support of the move.

Wilson said he wasn't in favor of TWSA moving to Dillsboro "because it takes that property off the tax base."

He did, however, assure King that he would arrange a meeting on the amendment change between the three mayors and the county manager.

Also Monday night, Dillsboro passed an ordinance granting a natural gas franchise to Public Service Company on North Carolina, Inc. for a period of 30 years. Sylva approved a similar franchise agreement with the company in February.

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